GUWAHATI: In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Indian Railways is making an all out effort to supplement the health care efforts of the Government of India.
According to a release, the NFR (Northeast Frontier Railway zone) has already modified 315 coaches as Isolation coaches for placement in various locations.
The spectrum of steps include modification of passenger coaches as isolation coaches, equipping the existing Railway Hospitals to meet the COVID-19 needs, earmarking of hospital beds to meet the contingencies, recruitment of additional doctors and paramedics etc.
These coaches are equipped with all basic facilities needed for isolation as per guidelines issued by Railway Board. Coaches are also equipped with mosquito nets, charging points for mobiles and laptop, space for paramedics etc. One Isolation coach consists of 8 beds, 1 bathroom, 3 toilets for use of patients. If needed, more coaches can be modified as Isolation coaches. These Isolation coaches are of great significance, as existing Isolation beds in various hospitals might prove to be insufficient in case of contingency. And building new hospitals are not possible within a short time. So during emergency, these coaches will come handy for the health departments. Altogether 2520 Isolation beds in coaches are ready with NFR in different states / locations. All these coaches are ready for movement/deployment as and when instructions are received from appropriate health authority of Government of India.
These beds are in addition to 170 Isolation beds which are ready at different Railway hospitals over NFR. Moreover, 811 beds for Quarantine are also kept ready for use in different location in NFR. All these facilities will be made available as mandated by the Government of India and State governments to those in need.
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